PSV licence: Penang MACC detains 7 doctors
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission ( MACC) detained seven doctors for allegedly approving medical examination for the renewal of the public service vehicle ( PSV) licence without conducting any medical examination on the applicants in an operation yesterday.
Its state director Datuk Abdul Aziz Aban said the MACC also detained three individuals suspected of being involved in the activities – a 41-year- old female clinic assistant and two men who are the ‘runners’.
“Six of the doctors arrested are owners of a private clinic and another doctor serving in a government hospital, who was on duty at his father’s clinic during the operation,” he told a media confenrence here yesterday.
He said the doctors were arrested in an operation at 3pm on Tuesday in seven clinics around Bukit Mertajam, Batu Ferringhi, Pekan Lama, Gelugor and Perai as well as two premises and a private kiosk.
According to him, investigations conducted by MACC on the activities of these doctors since
Six of the doctors arrested are owners of a private clinic and another doctor serving in a government hospital, who was on duty at his father’s clinic during the operation.
last December revealed that they did not carry out examination procedures on the applicants, especially bus and taxi drivers wanting to renew their PSV licence.
“The act of the doctors was in conflict with the requirements set by the Road Transport Department ( RTD) as it is compulsory for an applicant to be fully examined by a doctor to ensure the individual is in good health,” he said.
Abdul Aziz said investigations also revealed the detained clinic assistant was allegedly allowed by the doctor, who is her employer, to approve medical examination forms by signing on them.
“Both runners are believed to have provided services to the applicants without them having to visit the clinic to get the doctor’s approval,” he said adding that MACC also seized medical examination application forms, receipts issued to drivers and fake stamps used in the activities.
He said one of the runners allegedly provided six fake stamps on behalf of the two clinics and names of three non existing doctors for approving the applications of their ‘clients’.
The MACC also seized 16 books or 1,600 copies of the JPJ JPJL8 forms in which each book contained 100 forms and, out of the 16 books, seven books or 700 pieces of forms were signed and stamped with the names of the doctors and clinics that did not exist, he said.
He said the doctors and two runners concerned were believed to be involved in the activities since the last four to 10 years.
“This made their services popular among the bus and taxi drivers. Based on initial investigations, the applicant is charged between RM5 and RM30 by these doctors for each
Datuk Abdul Aziz Aban, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Penang director
application.
“This is a very serious problem and action should be taken urgently as it involved public safety and a surge in road accidents if the bus or taxi drivers suffer from a sudden heart attack or other ailments while driving,” he said.
Abdul Aziz said all those detained, aged 32 to 74, are being remanded for two days from yesterday. — Bernama